Despite repeated assurances of calm from those at the top of the USC football program following the Stanford loss, last week’s big road victory over Arizona State was vital in the minds of the players.

“We really needed it,” USC wide receiver Isaac Whitney said. “It was a necessity. It came at the right time.”

With Arizona State held to 14 points, it also provided a one-week respite for criticism of defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox.

Right?

Perhaps not, as one online poll this week revealed 70 percent said their opinion of Wilcox did not improve.

Analysts were hardly kinder even after USC’s first victory in Sun Devil Stadium since 2009.

“They’re just not tough enough,” Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt said this week.

That criticism hits close to home. During a training camp scrimmage, USC coach Steve Sarkisian yelled at the team about media reports the Trojans were not as physical as crosstown rival UCLA.

On the run

So far, the defense remains a work in progress despite the Arizona State game. Just look at the rushing totals for three of USC’s four opponents: Arkansas State: 208 yards.

Stanford: 195 yards.

Arizona State: 182 yards.

Even Sarkisian said, “I would like to see us be more stout at the line of scrimmage,” after a blowout victory over Arkansas State.

There are five top 25 teams remaining on USC’s schedule: Notre Dame, Utah, California, Oregon and UCLA. All have offenses proficient at running.

It’s no wonder middle linebacker Cameron Smith leads the team with 30 tackles despite being inconsistent, which is expected for a true freshman learning a complex position. Teams are ripping past the line of scrimmage on a regular basis.

And sometimes it might be coaching. One USC player said Arizona State tailback Demario Richard gained 61 yards on the Sun Devils’ first play of the game because USC was in the “wrong formation.”

Secondary strength

Pac-12 teams also love to throw the ball and the secondary should be under more scrutiny the rest of the season. Freshman cornerback Iman Marshall has lived up to expectations and brims with confidence.

Marshall gave up some big pass plays against Stanford but was in the correct spot, which forced Stanford to make great plays.

“You could see I was in good position but I didn’t finish,” Marshall said. “And that’s the thing that’s going to separate the good from the great and the great from legendary.

“And what I’m trying to do is be legendary.”

Cornerback is becoming a position of strength for the Trojans. There are no concerns about Adoree Jackson and senior Kevon Seymour should return next week. That will allow Jackson more snaps on offense, which was supposedly the excuse for not letting him touch the ball against Stanford. Freshman Isaiah Langley emerged against Arizona State, providing more depth.

This is one of the ironies of USC. It claims it has the No. 1 strength-and-conditioning program in the nation, but its toughness is being questioned and depth is still used as an excuse at cornerback.

All about adjustments

All of that might not matter as much as the in-game adjustments made by Wilcox the rest of the season. Sarkisian is actively working more with him during games while offensive coordinator Clay Helton mostly handles the offense.

Last season a prominent college football analyst, who asked to remain anonymous, said adjustments during the game were Wilcox’s biggest weakness.

Klatt echoed this last week.

“He stayed in the same defense the whole game against Stanford,” Klatt said.

None of this necessarily means USC cannot win the Pac-12 South or the Pac-12 title. But it shows the Trojans definitely have an area to improve if they are going to reach their expectations.

Otherwise the offense will be under more pressure to produce — and the Stanford game demonstrated that is not always possible.

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